ISLAMABAD (August 29 2008): Pakistan is ready to auction 3G spectrum to introduce state-of-the-art telecom technology in the country, said Dr Muhammad Yaseen, chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). He was addressing the participants of the seminar on the future of mobile communication in Pakistan titled, “Has the clock struck 3G’ organised by South Asia Forum in association with the Telenor and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority here on Thursday.

South Asia Forum Chairman Javed Iqbal, Telenor CEO Jon Eddy Abdullah; Telecom Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Member Noor-ud-Din Baqai and Next Generation Mobility Manager Director Aadil Rauf were also present on the occasion.

Dr Yaseen said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has the spectrum earmarked, and all the groundwork is complete and would soon invite applications for 3G spectrum auction. He said the availability of the 3G spectrum would help the operators increase their capacity and revenues by deploying state-of-the-art HSPA technology.

Due to this addition users would enjoy high quality mobile broadband services enabling them to avail facilities of video telephony, high speed internet, video streaming, high quality mobile TV and a number of value-added services.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chief said the 3G technologies like HSDPA and HSPA have been widely adopted. There are over 220 HSDPA and HSPA operators in more than 90 countries with 280 million subscribers, he added.

Dr Yaseen also said that over 381 million are increasing at annual growth rate of 88 percent and these 3G users would grow more with its introduction in China, India, and Pakistan.

He said that China has recently lunched 3G services whereas other small countries in our region like Sri Lanka and Nepal have also launched 3G services while India has announced guidelines on 3G licensing and would soon be auctioning the 3G spectrum technology.

He said the Visionary Policies of the government that targeted liberalisation of the telecom sector has exhibited a growth rate of around 40 percent last year almost crossing 90 million mark adding around two million subscribers each month, he added.

He said that the government has taken such initiatives, which compelled the investors to invest liberally resulting spectacular rise of telecom industry, especially the mobile sector. Experts and analysts from Information Technology, Pakistan Telecom Authority, Nokia, Siemens Network and Warid Telecom Pakistan shared and discuss issues, suggesting solutions, sharing strategies and requesting policy support.

Telecom operators were of the view that the 3G auction should be carried out as soon as possible to provide broadband to the masses without delay any gap in the digital divide, he added. (data from brecoder)